Clipping apparatus for applying a clip around a bag end including gate means for positioning the bag end



Dec. 27, 1966 M. J. G. TIPPER 3,293,736

CLIPPING APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A CLIP AROUND A' BAG END INCLUDING GATEMEANS FOR POSITIONING THE BAG END Filed June 28, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. MAYNARD J G. T/PPE/P A TTO/PNEV Dec. 27, 1966 3,293,736

CLIPPING APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A CLIP AROUND A BAG END M. J. G. TIPPERINCLUDING GATE MEANS FOR POSITIONING THE BAG END Filed June 28 1965 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MAYNARD J. 6. T/PPER M wow? A TTOPNEY Dec. 27,1966 M. J. G. TIPPER 3,293,736 CLIPPING APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A CLIPAROUND A BAG END INCLUDING GATE MEANS FOR POSITIONING THE BAG END FiledJune 28 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 N an-\\\\\\\\\ m a l A v fimm v 1 N n I Ai @M\ mm mm 5 R ATTORNEY Dec. 27, 1966 M. J. G. TIPPER 3,293,736

CLIPPING APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A CLIP AROUND A BAG END INCLUDING GATEMEANS FOR POSITIONING THE BAG END Filed June 28, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR. MAYNARD J. 6. T/PPER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,293,736CLIPPING APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A CLIP AROUND A BAG END INCLUDING GATEMEANS FOR POSITIONING THE BAG END Maynard J. G. Tipper, Oakland, Calif,assignor to Rheem Manufacturing Company, New York, N.Y., a corporationof California Filed June 28, 1965, Ser. No. 467,258 7 Claims. (Cl.29-24357) This invention relates to an apparatus for applying apermanent fastener around an article and is particularly adapted forapplying a U-shaped metal clip to the end of a flexible or deformablecasing or bag enclosing a product such as foodstuff.

Heretofore, devices of this general nature have been provided with arestricted throat along which the casing, bag or other article to besealed has been passed to the inner end of the throat in which positionthe article is properly located to permit the clip to encircle thearticle. In some instances where the material of the article to begathered is unwieldy and diflicult to feed through a throat, a swingablegate has been provided in order to facilitate positioning of the articlein its proper position relative to the clip deforming die. An example ofsuch an apparatus is shown in Patent No. 2,880,419.

In many installations it is difiicult to orient the gathered neck of thebag, casing or other article to be sealed in the desired clippingposition by means of prior art devices having fixed throats and even bydevices of the type having a swinging gate as shown in the above citedpatent. This difliculty is especially present in applications whereinthe end of a casing or the mouth of a flexible bag must be positionedaround a filling spout and contracted at a point beneath the spout to agreatly reduced area to permit the clip to encircle the article. Anexample of such an application is in sealing plastic bags of the typeemployed for packaging .milk and which bags are subsequently shipped incorrugated cartons. In such an operation the milk is generally fed intothe bag through a downwardly directed filling spout or nozzle with themouth of the bag encircling such spout or nozzle. The greater thediameter of the filling nozzle the faster is the filling time and it istherefore desirable to make such diameter as large as possible thusrequiring the bag to be provided with a relatively large filling mouth.In automatic or semiautomatic machinery it thus becomes difiicult toposition the relatively large mouth of the bag in surround ngrelationship to the filling nozzle and at the same time provide forsealing the 'bag at a point downwardly from but closely adjacent thedischarge end of the nozzle in order to make optimum use of the materialof the bag.

One of the main objects of the present invention is the provision of aclipping apparatus which, generally, is an improvement over presentlyavailable devices of like nature in that the step of positioning thearticle to be sealed at the clipping station is greatly facilitated bysuch apparatus.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a clipping apparatusprovided with means for quickly and effectively restricting the throator mouth of the article to be sealed so that a relatively large amountof material such as exists in the case of a wide mouth milk bag may bequickly and effectively restricted to a position alongside the die whichserves to deform the clip around the article.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a clipping apparatuswhich is, in effect, double gated in that both the die support and itsassociated article positioning member are both swingably mounted so thata greater amount of area is provided at the clipping station forpositioning the article to be sealed in those applications where arelatively large area is required such as in filling milk bags and thelike.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatusincorporating relatively movable die supports and gates which at thesame time affords the rigidity required to resist the relatively largeclipping force imparted to the die by the power driven punch.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing specification and from the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective of the invention in open position.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the device of FIG. 1 showing a fluidfilling nozzle and bag clamping means in dotted lines. The clip magazineand other structure of FIG. 1 is omitted to improved the clarity of theview.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view, partly broken away and in section, of thedevice of FIG, 1 with the arms indicated by dot-dash lines in theirinner positions.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section through the die supporting arm as takenin a plane indicated by lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross section through the gate arm as taken in aplane indicated by lines 55 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section taken in a plane indicated by lines 6-6of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is :a fragmentary front elevation showing the feed plate.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view through the gate arm as taken ina plane indicated by lines 8-43 of FIG. 3 but showing both arms in theirinner positions.

FIG. 9 is an end elevation of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a semischematic piping arrangement.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side elevation of a plastic bag with a clipattached thereto.

Vlith reference first to FIG. 2, the preferred form of the invention isillustrated in cooperation with a downwardly directed filling nozzlegenerally designated 1, and a pair of opposed clamping elements 10 forreleasably securing the mouth of the bag to be sealed to the nozzle 1.The filling spout 1 and clamping elements 10 are shown in dotted linessince they do not form a part of the present invention. It will beunderstood that the clamping elements 10 may be arranged on any suitablepivots to swing toward and away from the nozzle 1 as indicated in FIG.2.

The invention comprises a relatively large diameter air cylindergenerally designated 2 which is provided with an integral upwardlyextending flange 3 (FIG. 1) by which the apparatus of the presentinvention may be secured to an adjacent structure such as indicated at 4in FIG. 6. Fixedly secured to the rear end of cylinder 2 are upper andlower elongated supports 6 and 7 between which a pair of arms or gatesgenerally designated 8 and 9 are oseillatably supported. Extendingbetween supports 6 and 7 is a pivot pin 11 on which both arms 8 and 9are adapted to swing (FIG. 6). The adjacent ends of said arms 8 and 9are reduced in thickness so that both arms may be accommodated in thespace between upper and lower supports 6, 7 (see FIG. 9). At this pointit will be noted that the lower support 7 is somewhat longer in lengththan upper support 6 so that said lower support 7 may take aconsiderable amount of the weight of the arms 8, 9 during the operationof the same.

At the opposite end of cylinder 2 from pivot 11 and fixed relatives tosaid cylinder 2 are another pair of elongated upper and lower supports13, 14, respectively, be-

tween which the adjacent free ends of arms 8, 9 are slidably received.In order to reduce friction it is preferable that the opposed faces ofupper and lower supports 13, 14 be provided with liners 13', 14' ofTeflon or like antifriction material (FIG. 2).

Pivotally secured at one of its ends to one end of the upper and lowersupports 13, 14 is an elongated air cylinder 15 and at the opposite endsof said supports a similar air cylinder 16 is pivotally supported. Theother ends of cylinders 15, 16 are connected to arms 8, 9, respectively,as best seen in FIG. 3 for a purpose to be described later on in greaterdetail.

The piston rod 17 of air cylinder 15 is pivotally connected to arm 8 andthe piston rod 18 of cylinder 16 is similarly connected to arm 9. Atthis poEnt it will be noted that the ends of arms 8, 9 opposite thepivot pin 11 swing toward each other when the air cylinders 15, 16 arecontracted, and swing away from each other when said air cylinders areexpanded.

Upper and lower supports 13, 14 are fixedly secured by screws or thelike to the end of air cylinder 2 which 18 opposite the end supportingpivot pin 11. In this manner the entire apparatus is supported from themain air cylinder 2, which in turn is fixedly secured to the adjacentstructure 4.

Arm 8 is provided at its outer end with a die 20 which is receivedwithin a relatively deep recess formed in the outer end of arm 8. Ashallower recess outwardly of die 20 receives a guard plate 21 (FIG. 1)which not only serves to retain the die 20 in place but is formed alongits upper edge to define a portion of the throat which receives thearticle to be sealed when the arms 8, 9 are in their inner positions.

The outer end of arm 9 is formed generally complementarily to the outerend of arm 8 and is provided with a bore 23 in which is press-fitted adowel 24 of hard metal. When the arms 8, 9 are in their inner adjacentpositions the dowel 24 is received within a bore 25 formed in the outertip of arm 8. At this point it is pertinent to note that dowel 24 isformed with a frustoconical outer tip (FIG. 8) so as to be readilyreceived in bore 25 in arm 8. However, a portion ofthe dowel 24projecting from arm 9 is cylindrical so that when said portion isreceived in bore 25 of arm 8 a strong connection between arms 8, 9 iseffected with the adjacent surfaces of said arms in engagement.

Arms 8 and 9 are formed with grooves 26, 27, respectively, whichcooperate to provide a channel along which the clips are urged towardthe die 20.

For the purpose-of feeding U-shaped clips to the abovedescribedmechanism there is provided an upwardly extending clip rail on which arelatively large number of clips 31 may be stored and gravity fed alongrail 39 toward the upper elongated support 13 (FIG. 1). Said elongatedsupport 13 and its liner 13' are notched as at 36 to permit the clips 31to pass therethrough and into a feed plate .32 which 'is secured tocylinder 2 and provided with a generally rectangular clip receivingopening 33 (FIG. 3) permitting the lowermost clip on clip rail 30 to bereceived within a feed channel 34 formed in feed plate 32.

The means for driving the clips into engagement with die 20 comprises anelongated punch 35 which is secured at its inner end to the piston 37 ofcylinder 2 (FIG. 6) and which is received at its outer end in feed plate32. Punch 35 is adapted to reciprocate along the length of said feedplate 32 and grooves 26, 27 in arms 8, 9 upon the admission of fluidsuch as air to the end of the cylinder 2 that is adjacent the pivot 11.The clip receiving channel that is defined by grooves 26, 27 in arms 8and 9, respectively, is in alignment with the feed channel 34 in feedplate 32 so that said punch 35 drives a clip from the clip receivingopening 33 in feed plate 32 along the length of grooves 26, 27 and intoengagement with the die 21?. When the arms 8, 9 are in their innerpositions the portions of said arms adjacent grooves 26, 27 constrainthe material to be sealed within a relatively small area so that theclip may encircle the material and tighten itself around the latter.Details of the cooperation of the clip with the die are not disclosedherein as such details are disclosed in Patent No. 3,210,835 of October12, 1965, Patent No.

4 3,239,926 of March 15, 1966, and in application Serial No. 395,707filed September 11, 1964.

At this point it should be noted that the particular arrangement hereindisclosed of the arms 8, 9 is extremely important in effecting a rigidsupport for the die 20 so as to resist the relatively strong force ofthe punch and at the same time to permit the outward swinging of arms 3and 9 to permit sufficient room for an operator to properly position themouth of the bag on the fiiling nozzle. One of the important featurespermitting this result is the provision of a unitary pivot 11 aboutwhIch both arms 8, 9 swing. It will be noted that the centerline of theair cylinder 2, the pivot 11 and the line of action of the punch 35 areall in alignment. If two spaced apart pivots were provided the force ofthe punch 35 would tend to swing the arms 8, 9 outwardly during thedeformation of the clip thereby resulting in an unstable structure. Bythe arrangement shown, the resistance to the force of the punch takesthe form of tension in the arms 8 and 9 and there is no tendency for atorque to develop that would tend to spread the arms apart during theclipping operation.

Another advantage gained by the particular arrangement of the arms 8, 9as disclosed herein is the cooperation of the dowel 24 in causing botharms 8, 9 to act as a unit so that not only-is the strength of both armsavailable for resisting the force of the punch but perfect alignment ofthe path of travel of the clip 31 and the die 20 is insured. It will beunderstood that since both arms 8, 9 are movable it is extremelyimportant to return said arms to a predetermined registering position inalignment with the centerline of the cylinder 2 at the time the clippingoperation is perfonmed, I

Asbest seen in FIGS. 3 and 8, the outer ends of arms 8, 9 are formedwith abutting surfaces 56, 57 respectively adjacent bore 25 and dowel24. When the arms are in their inner positions, said surfaces 56, 57 arein engagement. In the event one of the arms 8, 9 reache the innerposition before the other, they are automatically centered relative tothe path of travel of the clip by feed plate 32, the opposite ends 58,59 of which are adapted to be engaged by surfaces 60, 61 formed on arms8, 9. When the arms 8, 9 are properly centered in their inner positionsa few thousandths of an inch clearance exists between the ends 58, 59 ofplate 32 and the surfaces 60, 61 of arms 8, 9 (FIG; 3).

To assist in gathering the material of the article to be sealed thereare provided a pair of upper and lower guard plates 38, 39 respectivelyon the outer extremity of arm 9. These guard plates slide along theopposite faces of the portion of the arm 8 adjacent die 29 as arms 8, 9move to the inner position thus assisting in maintaining the die 20 incoplanar relationship with a central horizontal plane through thecylinder 2. i The inwardly directed edges of guard plates 38, 39 arecontoured so as to assist in gathering the material to be clipped towardthe relatively small space between channel grooves 26, 27 of arms 8, 9respectively.

In FIG. 10 there is shown schematically one form which the piping forthe mechanisms may take when air is employed as the power medium. An airsupply line 40 is .connected by a tee 41 to a regulator 42 from whichair is conducted to the two conduits 43, 44 which supply the lowpressure ends of arm actuating cylinders 15, 16. The regulator 42 is setat a relatively low pressure, for example 15 p.s.i., so that thepressure in lines 43, 44 becomes a substitute for a spring returnholding the arms 8, 9 in a normally open position as shown in FIG. 1.

Tee 41 is also connected by means of line 45 to threeway valves 46, 47.Valve 46 is actuated by means of a solenoid 53 and is connected to lines48, 49 which conduct the air under pressure to the high pressure ends ofarm actuating cylinders 15 and 16 so that upon opening valve 46 the arms8, 9 are simultaneously swung to their inner positions.

Valve 47 which supplies the pressure end of the punch actuating cylinder2 is of the type which includes a pilot valve (not shown) supplied by aline 50 connected to the discharge side of valve 46. Upon actuation ofvalve 46 the pilot in valve 47 is actuated to open valve 47 after arelatively short time delay which permits the arms 8, 9 to attain theirinnermost position.

For the purpose of exhausting cylinder 2 as quickly as possible afterthe power stroke a quick exhaust valve 51 is provided in line 54 whichsupplies the cylinder 2. Valve 51 operates to open cylinder 2 to theatmosphere as soon as a reduction in pressure occurs in line 54. Thispermits spring 52 in cylinder 2 to retract the punch from the clipbefore the arms 8, 9 move toward their outer positions under the urgingof the slower acting pressure from regulator 42. This is important sincethe friction between clip 31 and die 20 would be suflicient to resistthe outward movement of the arms 8, 9 is force were being applied to theclip at the time the arms 8, 9 begin to move outwardly to release thearticle which has already been scaled.

It will be seen that the above described structure is sufliciently flexible to permit an operator to position the mouth of a milk bag or thelike in proper clipping position and at the same time the structure issufiiciently rugged to withstand the relatively high forces developedduring the punching operation.

The above specific description of the preferred form of the invention isnot to be taken as restrictive as it will be apparent that variousmodifications in design will ocour to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a clipping apparatus adapted to secure a clip about an article,

means for urging a clip along a path of travel toward a clipping point,

a die at said point adapted to be engaged by said clip for deformingsaid clip about such article,

a die holder supporting said die at a point in said path, 4

a gate cooperatively associated with said die holder for defining anarticle receiving space between said gate and said die holder,

means supporting said gate for movement in a direction laterally awayfrom said path in one direction, and

means supporting said die holder for lateral movement away from saidpath in the opposite direction, whereby a relatively large space isprovided between said gate and said die holder for receiving sucharticle therein.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said die holder supportingmeans includes a pivot about which said holder is swingable to eflFectsuch movement.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said holder and gate areprovided with abutting portions adapted to be engaged when said holderand gate are moved inwardly relative to said path.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said gate and holder areprovided with interengaging elements cooperating at the inner positionsof said gate and die to resist the clipping force on said die.

5. In a clipping apparatus adapted to secure a clip about an articlesuch as a wide mouth bag or the like,

a fluid actuated cylinder provided with a piston,

an elongated punch fixed at its inner end to said piston and adapted atits outer end to move a clip along a path of travel toward a clippingpoint,

a die holder swingably supported at one end on a pivot fixed relative tosaid cylinder,

a die on the other end of said die holder adapted to deform such clipunder the urgency of the fluid in said cylinder when said holder is inan inner position with said die positioned at said clipping point,

a gate swingaibly supported at one end on a pivot fixed relative to saidcylinder and cooperatively associated at its other end with said holderfor defining an article receiving space between said holder and gatewhen said gate is in an inner position, and

means for swinging said holder and gate oppositely outwardly away fromsaid path to provide a relatively large space for receiving said articletherein.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the pivots of said holder andgate are coxial with the common axis intersecting said path at theopposite end of said cylinder from said clipping point.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said holder and gate areprovided with interengaging elements adjacent said clipping point forconnecting said holder and gate together during the clipping operation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 599,196 2/ 1898Ro'bbins 29-243.56 2,711,278 6/1955 Gray. 2,866,975 1/1959 lne 29243.57X 2,969,545 1/1961 Allen 29-243.56 X

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. MILTON S. MEHR, Examiner.

1. IN A CLIPPING APPARATUS ADAPTED TO SECURE A CLIP ABOUT AN ARTICLE,MEANS FOR URGING A CLIP ALONG A PATH OF TRAVEL TOWARD A CLIPPING POINT,A DIE AT SAID POINT ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED BY SAID CLIP FOR DEFORMINGSAID CLIP ABOUT SUCH ARTICLE, A DIE HOLDER SUPPORTING SAID DIE AT APOINT IN SAID PATH, A GATE COOPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID DIE HOLDERFOR DEFINING AN ARTICLE RECEIVING SPACE BETWEEN SAID GATE AND SAID DIEHOLDER, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID GATE FOR MOVEMENT IN A DIRECTION LATERALLYAWAY FROM SAID PATH IN ONE DIRECTION, AND MEANS SUPPORTING SAID DIEHOLDER FOR LATERALLY MOVEMENT AWAY FROM SAID PATH IN THE OPPOSITEDIRECTION, WHEREBY A RELATIVELY LARGE SPACE IS PROVIDED BETWEEN SAIDGATE AND SAID DIE HOLDER FOR RECEIVING SUCH ARTICLE THEREIN.